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Oregon State Marine Board honors Josephine County rescuers for Illinois River rescue
Summary
The Oregon State Marine Board presented Life Saver Awards May 27 to nine private rescuers who helped locate and save a rafter on Feb. 16, 2026 on the Illinois River; Josephine County Sheriff and county commissioners commended the effort.
The Oregon State Marine Board presented Life Saver Awards May 27 to nine private citizens who helped locate and save a rafter on Feb. 16, 2026, Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel told the Board of County Commissioners.
Daniel said members of the private rafting community coordinated with the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Division and the United States Coast Guard to locate Gabriel Vaughn, who had become separated from his rafting group near Green Wall Rapids. The group located Vaughn alive roughly two miles downstream from his last known location, after which the Coast Guard helicoptered him to receive medical treatment. Larry Warren, Director of the Oregon State Marine Board, traveled to Grants Pass to present Life Saver Awards to the rescuers.
The county and Warren recognized the following people for their roles in the rescue: Aaron Babcock; Alex Azasi; Nicole Smedegard; Sean Bowen; Andrew Morrissey; Neil Guthrie; Kelsey Barnes; Aaron Edrick; and Jonathan Vaughn. Commissioners thanked the recipients, the Marine Board, the Sheriff’s Office, and Search and Rescue personnel for their work and dedication to public safety, and noted the dangers of the Illinois River.
The presentation emphasized boating- and river-safety awareness and commended private citizens for using their river expertise to assist in an emergency outside the technical capabilities of local search-and-rescue resources.
No formal action was taken on the presentation; the awards were ceremonial recognitions placed on the public record.
